Two separate pit bull attacks were reported in Albuquerque on Thursday, following the five other attacks in the state in the last month.

The first attack occurred near 98th and Central streets in southwest Albuquerque.

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An off-duty Albuquerque police officer shot and killed a pit bull in his own back yard because he said the dog was attacking him.

The police officer said he was doing yard work when the pit bull from down the street ran into his property and attacked him out of nowhere. He said he had no choice but to shoot the dog to protect himself and the kids in his neighborhood

Paula Mondragon, a neighbor, said she was startled when she and her two young kids heard gunshots across the street from their home.

"I just freaked out," Mondragon said. "They just said they heard two firecrackers. They were loud 'firecrackers.' "

Mondragon said just minutes before the shooting, she saw a pit bull barreling down the road and coming within feet of where her children were playing. She said the dog somehow escaped from a home down their street.

"(The pit bull) was running full blast," Mondragon said.

She said the owner was chasing after it in his car

"The owner stopped in the middle of the road and went after the dog," Mondragon said.

But the pit bull ran into the back yard of the off-duty APD officer.

When the dog latched onto his leg and lunged at him, the officer said, he fired his city-issued gun several times and killed the pit bull.

"I got here and there was a dead dog on the sidewalk," Mondragon said.

Animal control said the dog has never been to the officer's home before. Neighbors said they've never seen the pit bull be aggressive or escape

"He's always caged up in the back, tied up with a chain," said neighbor Mary Valdez.

Investigators said it wasn't the case on Thursday and that the incident could have put an entire neighborhood in danger.

The pit bull's owner is facing criminal charges and a $500 fine for having an animal at large.

The second attack occurred at Bataan Park in northeast Albuquerque.

Investigators said two pit bull mixes were running loose and attacked a man exercising with his dog.

They said the man has bite marks all over his hands from trying to protect his pet. His Pomeranian was badly injured and rushed to a veterinary hospital.

The two pit bulls were seized from the owners and have been quarantined, investigators said.

Animal control said it is seeing an increase in bite cases at this time of the year, adding that the numbers typically go up in spring and summer